At what point do you open a case?

[vipinvitationstudio]

Hi all. I’m a seller myself and try to be patient, but I ordered an item 9 days ago, before thanksgiving and the seller printed the shipping label within minutes. It says usps awaiting item and no updates at all. I have contacted the seller twice, with no reply. The estimated delivery date is tomorrow and I’m wondering if I’ll ever get this item. I would gladly wait if I knew it was even dropped off, even if there were a usps delay, but no contact from the seller and no update to tracking is making me a bit nervous that I’m wishing I could have gone elsewhere to get the item now. I know items don’t always get scanned in, but I’m skeptical at this point that’s even the case since there has been zero contact. Should I wait it out longer? At what point would you open a case? Thanks so much.

[airsheep]

If you've contacted the seller with no response twice and the ETA is tomorrow, unless it shows movement beyond 'label created', I'd open a case when permitted.  If nothing else, it will get their attention.  Hopefully.

[ittybitnot]

@vipinvitationstudio 

You can open a case the day after the LAST expected delivery date on the order.  The seller has three days to respond.  If they don't you can the escalate (ask eBay to step in and help).  

If by chance you get a notice from eBay that the buyer has provided tracking that shows 'delivered' and you still don't have the parcel, you have a different issue going on and you should return here for more assistance. 

Good luck!  Hope your item arrives shortly. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

The lack of response from the seller would lead me to open the case just a day or two after the last estimated delivery date.

Have you checked the tracking through usps.com, not just through eBay?

[vipinvitationstudio]

Yes, I have. No update at all. Thanks so much!

[simba6]

If sellers are working with you, you can wait to open a case. When they don't, you open it a day after the last given delivery date.

[7606dennis]

As a seller yourself, you should be thoroughly familiar with the terms & conditions of eBay's MBG.  You should also be aware, as a seller, that scan updates can be iffy thanks to the USPS method of doing things.  Since the estimated last day of the estimated delivery period has not passed and considering that the Thanksgiving holiday was in those 9 days, I believe that you're being a bit premature in worrying about it.  Frankly, there is no "gladly wait..." about it.  You have no other choice but to wait.

As a seller, you should be aware that sellers are not required to communicate with buyers or furnish them with tracking numbers. You have the tracking number so I recommend that you be patient.

[reallynicestamps]

You can open a Dispute 24 hours after the last estimated delivery date passes.

But.

Nine days, during a period when the supply chain (which includes the postal system) is shakey.

And during which your Thanksgiving holiday means at least two weekdays and two weekend days of further disruption.

And you actually purchased on Thanksgiving Day?

If you need something urgently, you should not be buying by mail order. Shopping malls are opening. Buying locally is possible.

[dogchow747]

How USPS was it supposed to be shipped?

Was it something like cheap sports cards or media?

I just got something yesterday from a seller that took 9 days from CA to TX (100% USPS)

If it is media it will get slower as xmas approaches. I promise.

[mudshark61369]

@vipinvitationstudio,

"I ordered an item 9 days ago, before thanksgiving and the seller printed the shipping label within minutes. It says usps awaiting item and no updates at all. I have contacted the seller twice, with no reply".

Did you check the seller's feedback profile before buying?  They may have a fair number of feedback and a 100% rating but it could all be for buying, or they haven't sold anything in over a year.  If the seller hasn't sold before or in over a year, they probably have run into the hold ebay places on new and returning sellers first few payments, and they don't know how to deal with it.  While your payment status is marked as completed, on their account it is marked Pending, so they may not think they have been paid yet. They may think your messages are an attempt to scam them into shipping before they receive payment, and that's why they have not responded.  No matter what a seller's feedback percentage is you should check their profile page, before buying from them.

If you find that the seller is new/returning, try messaging them again and tell them to do a Google search for "Payment holds on your sold items | ebay".  That should give them the info they need to complete the transaction.